A study published Wednesday in the science journal Nature reveals that human induced climate change could result in the extinction of more than a million terrestrial species in the next fifty years.
Based on investigations in six biodiversity-rich regions around the
world, the study estimates that between 15 and 37 percent of terrestrial species could be extinct by 2050, depending on the rate of global warming. The authors believe that these six regions are indicative of potential species extinction in other regions as well.
– Climate change is emerging as the biggest threat for nature in this century, said Jennifer Morgan, Director of the WWF climate change programme. – The only possible answer is to immediately cut down emissions of gases known to cause climate change, added he.
Practical steps to reduce these emissions are clearly laid out in PowerSwitch!, a new WWF campaign, which challenges the power sector in industrialized countries to become CO2-free by the middle of this century, and developing countries to make a major switch from coal to clean energy.
Carbon dioxide (or CO2) is the most important gas causing global warming, and 37 percent of it stems from electric power production, mainly through the burning of coal.
PowerSwitch! calls on power companies to replace polluting coal power with clean alternatives, such as wind, biomass and energy efficiency. WWF has produced detailed scenarios for the US, the EU, with special reports on Germany and Italy, the Philippines and Japan to demonstrate how this can be achieved.
– We have to act now if the loss of species is to be kept at the lowest possible figure, said Jennifer Morgan. – As the biggest polluting industrial sector, the power sector must act first.
The study published in Nature is probably the most comprehensive analysis to date on climate change and its impact on species survival.
It confirms findings of several reports published earlier by WWF, such as No Place to Hide, a study on climate change impacts on protected areas (September 2003), and Habitats at Risk (February 2002).
For further information: Martin Hiller, WWF Climate Change Programme, tlf. 00 41 79 347 2256
Kilde: Pressemeddelelse fra WWF
